Am J Perinatol 1997; 14(8): 457-460
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-994179
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1997 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Increased Acinar Arterial Wall Muscle in Preterm Infants with Prom and Pulmonary Hypoplasia

Donald W. Thibeault, Howard K. Kilbride
  • Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri
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Publikationsdatum:
04. März 2008 (online)

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary hypoplasia (PH), secondary to premature rupture of fetal membranes (PROM), is a frequent cause of pulmonary insufficiency in preterm infants. Pulmonary hypoplasia of diverse causes is usually associated with pulmonary hypertension. The objective of this study was to quantitate the acinar arterial wall thickness and muscu-larization in preterm infants with PROM that died with PH in comparison to age-matched controls. The left lung and pulmonary vasculature were perfused and fixed in a standard method in 16 infants with PROM and PH, and in 16 controls. In infants with PH, the alveolar ductal artery walls were nearly twice as thick as those of controls, 15.1 ± 5.1 % versus 7.4 ± 1.3%, p < 0.0001. Ninety-one percent had muscle in the wall compared to 18% of controls. We conclude that infants with PROM and PH have increased pulmonary arterial muscularization, placing them at significant risk to have pulmonary hypertension. For these infants, therapy to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance should be instituted early.